Amazing Family Fun at the Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer, AK
Planning for our honeymoon through Alaska, I casually looked at Google Maps on our route from Anchorage to Denali. I saw that there’s this Reindeer Farm in Palmer, around 50 minutes north of Anchorage. The Palmer Reindeer Farm is a short detour through our road trip from Anchorage to Denali National Park. I like animals, so I’m like, why not? I’ve never been close to reindeer so here’s my chance. Here’s what to expect when visiting the Reindeer Farm in Palmer, Alaska.
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At the time of writing, the Williams Reindeer Farm costs:
$16 adults
$14 children
Additional fees apply for booking online in advance. Remember that Alaska does not have a sales tax, so whatever you see posted is the final price aside from the online booking fees.
Yes, to ensure you’ll get a spot on the limited tour times and dates. You can book on the site below.
Winter tours (from mid-September until mid-May) have days when they’re not open. Go to their website to check on the dates and times they’re running the tour so you can plan your trip to Palmer accordingly.
They’re the same animal except that caribou are wild animals and a reindeer is a domesticated one. Domesticated means that they’re kept as pets (like Star the reindeer in Anchorage) or they could be animal ambassadors on a farm.
If you see an animal that looks like a reindeer while you’re hiking and out and about in Alaska, that’s a caribou.
On our first visit in 2017, the only animals you could interact with on the farm were just reindeer. It was nice because the reindeer were fun to interact with and we weren’t as rushed going from pen to pen. Fast forward to 2024, and the number of animals that you could interact with went up.
There are yak, moose, miniature horses, Scottish hairy cows, alpacas, turkeys, reptiles, and, of course, the reindeer. It has become a full-blown interactive petting zoo where you can feed several animals and observe them up close.
If adults loved the interactive experience of feeding the animals, the kids would love them too. Parents or guardians can help supervise the child as they feed the animals and get amazing videos and photos of the kids as they interact with the animals.
I went with a bunch of content creator friends on this trip and missed my kid, but now there’s a reason to come back with the family!
Wear clothes and shoes that you wouldn’t mind getting wet or muddy in the off-season (winter, spring, and fall). Alaska weather can vary and change sporadically and this is an outdoor activity so you may get wet and muddy during the experience.
The Reindeer Farm also sells foot covers if you’re wearing footwear that you don’t particularly like getting dirty.
The Reindeer Farm limits the feeding experiences to one handful or one big pellet per person, depending on the animal you get to feed. If you’re a family and want to give the kids more chances to feed a reindeer, you can just give your share to the kids.
The reindeer (or caribou) don’t have upper teeth, so it doesn’t hurt when feeding them with your hand. It actually feels ticklish as they eat everything from the palm of your hand. Reindeer kisses are the best, as they slurp up the pellets that you offer them. Try it, and add this experience to your bucket list!
When we first visited, the gift shop didn’t have as large a selection as it does now. They have everything you can think of that’s themed to the farm: plush toys, moose poop ornaments, magnets, shirts, and more!
Prices range from $4 up, depending on the item you want to purchase. The proceeds of your purchase go back to the Reindeer Farm, so it is a win-win!
I know animal interactions and zoos can be a sore topic for some people, but I love them and they serve their purpose if done right. These sanctuaries help educate people about our animal friends and neighbors, and we all share space in this world. These facilities look after animals who can’t live in the wild or are already domesticated in the first place.
The Reindeer Farm is an excellent place to take your kids. Not only can they see animals up close that they otherwise wouldn’t, but they get a chance to feed reindeer too. It’s such a fun hour to spend, and there are also clean, flushing toilets in the area.
Did you know you can visit a reindeer in Downtown Anchorage? You can visit Star the reindeer, who lives in the backyard of a home a 5-minute walk from downtown. While you can’t pet Star, you can still see her from the sidewalk. There’s a little free library located in front of the house, and the front yard is decorated with kooky characters that you just can’t help but take a picture of.
Star the Reindeer’s Address: 840 W 10th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
For the price of admission, the Williams Reindeers Farm in Palmer, Alaska is worth visiting. It’s an amazing way to spend an hour (or more) and you get a close-up experience with the animals!
Thank you to the Reindeer Farm for hosting our visit, and to Visit Mat-Su Valley for coordinating our stay in Palmer.
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